CLIVE Palmer has been pounced on for contradicting his lead candidate for the West Australian Senate election over renewable energy targets.

Palmer United Party's Dio Wang said on Tuesday that the existing Renewable Energy Target (RET), which requires that 20 per cent of Australia's electricity be produced from renewable energy sources by 2020, was the right scheme for maintaining and improving the nation's environment, and should stay as it is.

The scheme is being reviewed, led by Dick Warburton, chairman of the Westfield Retail Trust and a self-confessed climate change sceptic.

Mr Palmer said he believed the target should be voluntary.

“We don't agree with people being compelled to do anything,” he told reporters.

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam, who was beaten by Mr Wang in the initial count but shunted him out in the controversial recount, said the PUP leader had sidelined his WA Senate candidates and was making up policy on the RET as he went along.

“I understand why the Palmer circus is such a fascinating political trainwreck for election observers, but thousands of jobs are at stake,” Senator Ludlam said.

“Will Mr Wang get rolled by Clive every time he says something sensible, or is this a one-off?” Greens leader Christine Milne said Mr Palmer would say and do anything on a whim.

Federal member for Perth Alannah MacTiernan said a voluntary target was “a completely meaningless concept”.

“This is all about having a legislated target. It's been a very good scheme.”

News.com.au's Privacy Policy includes important information about our collection, use and disclosure of your personal information (including to provide you with targeted content and advertising based on your online activities). It explains that if you do not provide us with information we have requested from you, we may not be able to provide you with the goods and services you require. It also explains how you can access or seek correction of your personal information, how you can complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with a complaint of that nature.